Slitting machine having two laterally movable outer knives and a center knife maintained midway between the outer knives



May 29, 1956 BRQOKS 2,747,666

SLITTING MACHINE HAVING TWO LATERALLY MOVABLE OUTER KNIVES AND A CENTER KNIFE MAINTAINED MIDWAY BETWEEN THE OUTER KNIVES Original Filed March 19. 1952 4 SheetsSheet 1 INIENTOR. HAROLD H. BROOKS ATTORNEYS May 29, 1956 BROOKS SLITTING MACHINE HAVING TWO LATERALLY MOVABLE OUTER KNIVES AND A CENTER KNIFE MAINTAINED MIDWAY BETWEEN THE OUTER KNIVES Original Filed March 19. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I30 |32 INVENTOR- HAROLD H, BROOKS 7 ATTORNEYS May 29, 1956 H. H. BROOKS 2,747,666

SLITTING MACHINE HAVING TWO LATERALLY MOVABLE OUTER KNIVES AND A CENTER KNIFE MAINTAINED MIDWAY BETWEEN THE OUTER KNIVES Original Filed March 19. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 'T 9 LL (D 9 LL INVENTOR.

HAROLD BROOKS I BY We, minim,

ATTORNEYS May 29, 1956 H. H. BROOKS 2,747,666

SLITTING MACHINE HAVING TWO LATERALLY MOVABLE OUTER KNIVES AND A CENTER KNIFE MAINTAINED MIDWAY BETWEEN THE OUTER KNIVES Original Filed March 19. 1952., 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG-7' INVENTOR.

HAROLD H. BROOK;

FIG-6 ATTORNEYS SLITTING MACHINE HAVING TWO LATERALLY MOVABLE OUTER KNIVES AND A CENTER KNIFE MAINTAINED MIDWAY BETWEEN THE OUTER KNIVES Harold H. Brooks, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to Columbus Coated Fabrics Corporation, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application March 19, 1952, Serial No. 277,401,

now Patent No. 2,738,729, dated March 20, 1956. Divided and this application July 28, 1953, Serial No. 370,695

4 Claims. (Cl. 164-39) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for trimming and slitting webs and is generally similar to the apparatus disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 245,100, filed September 5, 1951, now Patent No. 2,705,049 but is an improvement thereover.

The present application is a division of my prior application Serial No. 277,401 filed March 19, 1952, now Patent No. 2,738,729 and entitled Method and Apparatus for Trimming and Slitting Webs.

The work member which the device according to the present invention is adapted for operating comprises an elongated web of coated fabric, particularly material for a wall covering. These webs of fabric are made up in lengths of up to 2400 yards, and heretofore have been produced in four foot widths with a trimming strip along each edge. Due to the extreme width of the strip and the necessity for exact trimming preparatory to hanging the strip, the use of this wall covering has heretofore largely been restricted to skilled persons. A substantially larger market can be opened up, however, and the hanging of the covering made easier if the product can be brought out in two foot widths and already trimmed to exact size.

With this general objective in view, the device disclosed in the co-pending application Serial No. 245,100 referred to above was developed and put into operation, and, while it accomplished an eminently satisfactory job of making a clean and sharp incision in the web, it was found to be lacking in trimming and slitting to close enough limits to insure a proper product. This fault came about because it was found that the webs of material varied somewhat in width along their lengths and any fixed trimming arrangement would thus result in a trimmed strip Where the trim line did not exactly match the printed pattern.

nite States Patent i in general, the variation in width of the web came about on account of shrinkage at certain points therealong, as, for example, in the area where two pieces of the fabric being coated were joined together. This variation in width of the strip quantitatively is a relatively minor matter, and further, the rate of variation is slight, and because of this a printed web trimmed to the proper line with reference to the pattern can always be hanged properly, due to the inherent flexibility of the material.

Having the foregoing in mind, this invention has for its primary object a method and apparatus for trimming and slitting webs of the nature described, particularly printed Webs, such that the difficulties referred to above are entirely eliminated and the resulting product is always trimmed to a precise line relative to the printed pattern thereon.

Another object is the provision for a method and apparatus for trimming and slitting webs which is rapid in operation, and wherein the machine is easy to set up.

A still further object is the provision of a method and apparatus for printing a web in such a manner that it is Patented May 29, 1956 ice particularly adapted for use in a web trimming and slitting machine according to this invention.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent upon reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a machine according to this invention with the frame of the machine indicated in dotdash outline;

Figure 2 is a vertical section, indicated by line 22 on Figure 1, showing the appearance of the machine from the rear;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the machine;

Figure 4 is a partial plan view of the machine at the cutting end thereof;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which a pantograph arrangement forming a part of this invention operates;

Figure 6 is a plan view showing a typical feeler member forming a part of the control system of this invention;

Figure 7 is a view looking at the end of the feeler arrangement in Figure 6, and is indicated by line 7-7 on Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a section indicated by line 8-8 on Fig ure 6;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic representation of the electric control circuit associated with the feeler; and

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic representation of the hydraulic system that is under the control of the feeler and its associated electric circuit.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, the machine of this invention comprises a frame, generally represented at 10, and comprising at the one end means 12 forming tracks for supporting a carriage 14 for lateral movement in the frame. Carriage 14 is adapted for receiving a roll 16 of the material to be trimmed and slit. The web of material, represented by letter W leads from roll 16 over a first roller 18 and in edge contact with feeler 162, and then over a plurality of idler rollers 20 distributed about the frame of the machine, and which preferably include means for maintaining a predetermined tension on the Web. The web W then leads over another idler roller 22, and then passes underneath a pair of relatively large rollers 24 and is held thereagainst by a fairly small intermediate roller 26 beneath the web. After passing over the rollers 24, the Web is wound on a suitable receiving spindle 28.

As will be seen in Figure 2, the roller 18 is laterally shiftable in the frame of the machine, in response to lateral movement of the feeler 162, the roller being shifted by means of the hydraulic cylinder and piston 30. This mechanism is connected to one end of the supporting shaft for the said roller and the other end of the said shaft is connected by a bracket 32 to shaft 34 of the supply roll 16, so that lateral shifting movements of roller 18 will be accompanied by equal lateral shifting movements of the supply roll.

In cooperation with the means associated with the rollers 20 for maintaining a predetermined tension on the web, shaft 34 may include a braking means, generally illustrated at 36, for applying a predetermined braking effect on the said shaft.

Associated with the left-hand one of rollers 24, as viewed in Figure l, are a plurality of cutting blades 33 which are in' the form of extra-long razor blades mounted on the ends of arms 40, each of which is pivoted at 42 to a suitable supporting framework 44, and so biased by a weight 46 that the cutting blade is pressed toward the roller 24.

As willbe seen in Figure 3, arms 40 are actually supported to one side of their supporting brackets 44, and are shiftable laterally in their respective brackets by L9 the adjustable screw 48, and can be clamped in position by the clamp nut 50.

In Figures 1, 3 and 4 it will be noted that underneath rollers 24 and extending transversely in the frame of the machine is a rigid table or platform 52. This platform 52 has fixed thereto upstanding guide rails 54 which slidably receive the slides 56, and each of which slides is rigidly connected with an upstanding support plate 58 that has at its upper end a horizontal slide portion 60 extending leftwardly therefrom, as viewed in Figure 1.

Slide portion 60 of each of the upstanding parts 58 of the slides 56 is associated with one of the cutter knife supporting brackets 44. The said brackets 44 are sup ported on the slide parts 60 for movement thereon and are likewise slidably engaged by a transverse bar 62, so that the knife supporting brackets 44 will all slide in unison. The bar 62 is supported at each end by the rails 64 and also adjacent each end are the racks 66 engaged by the gears 63 that are interconnected by shaft 70. The

purpose of this arrangement is so that during operation of the machine shaft 70 can be rotated slowly, and this will gradually shift the cutting blades in the direction of their length, thus continuously presenting a clean and sharp cutting edge to the web being trimmed and slit, so that at all times a perfectly sharp cut is obtained.

At the same time, the brackets 44 are slidable longitudinally of the rail or bar 62 independently of each other.

Associated with the two end slides 56 are the stationarily mounted hydraulic cylinders 72 within which are r as will be seen in both Figures 3 and 4. As the pistons I move in the cylinders, the associated slides are thus also moved.

The center slide takes a motion different from the two end slides for the reason that the knife associated therewith must always be exactly half-way between the two outer knives. For this reason, the center slide is connected so that it takes one-half the movement of each of the end slides, and in the same sense, whereby once adjusted so its knife is midway between the two outer knives, it will remain m an exactly centered position throughout all adjusting movements of the end slides.

According to this invention, this is accomplished, and as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5, by fixedly sup orting on the underneath side of the center slide a bar or rod 80, and on each end of which is slidable a yoke 82. This rod is at right angles to the direction of movement of the piston 74. Each yoke 82 is connected with the adjacent inner rod of one of the pistons 74 by a link 84. It will be seen that the movement of either of the pistons '74 in either direction will be accompanied by a movement of the center slide in the same direction, but only half the amount.

In the preparation of the web for being operated by the web slitter and trimmer, it is printed in the usual manner, and at the time of the final printing, the web is trimmed a predetermined distance outwardly from the outer edge of the printed pattern. Thus, should shrinkage or stretching of the web occur after the printing has been applied, the trimmed outer edge will always be the same distance from the edge of the printed pattern, and thus provide a reliable guide means when the web is delivered to the trimming and slitting machine.

When the trimmed web is mounted in the trimming and slitting machine, it engages the feeler arm 162, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 mounted in the machine frame closely adjacent laterally shit'table roller 18. This feeler 162 is best illustrated in Figure 6, and the arrangement for operation will be seen to consist of a mounting panel 104 on which is carried a coil 106 and reciprocably mounted 4 on coil 106 is an armature 108 biased in one direction by a spring 110.

Pivotally mounted on plate 104 by post 112 is the rod 114 that has the arcuate feeler arm 162 bearing on the edge of the web with a light pressure, say, one-half ounce.

Adjustably mounted on the arm, as by means of slot 118, is a plate pivotally supporting a block 122 to which is connected rod 124 leading to armature 108.

It will be apparent that movements of the web in the machine frame will be accompanied by movements of rod 114 about its pivotal support, and a corresponding adjustment of armature 108 in coil 106.

The movement of armature 108 in coil 106 is converted into a usable electrical impulse in the manner diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 9. In this figure it will be noted that coil 106 is, in fact, a plurality of coils, with the two numbered 126 being connected in series and supplied with energy from secondary coil 128 of a transformer 130 having a primary 132 connected with power lines L1 and L2.

The amplifier output is delivered to field coil 144 of reversible motor 146 having a second field coil 148 with a constant input, and the drive shaft of motor 146 is connected for adjusting a hydraulic control valve 150 and is also connected with armature 152 associated with coils 142.

Armature 152 is also positioned to influence the serially connected coils 154 that are supplied from secondary coil 156 of transformer 130.

At this time it will be seen that what Figure 9 illustrates is an extremely delicate electrically operated detector that controls a servo-valve and the adjustment of the servo-valve operating to restore balance in the electric circuit.

A typical arrangement of motor 146, valve 150, and the connected armature 152 is illustrated in Figure 10, and it will be noted that the valve 150 is connected between the hydraulic motor which it controls and a source of fluid pressure 160. Shifting of the valve in one direction will drive the motor piston in one direction, whereas shifting of the valve in the opposite direction will drive the piston in the opposite direction, and the valve further has a neutral position wherein the piston is locked stationary.

As mentioned before, the feeler arm 162 is carried by the frame and engages the edge of the web adjacent roller 18. The feeler operates through the highly sensitive combined electrical and hydraulic system in Figure 9 to cause the motor 146 to actuate the valve 150. This, in turn, controls a hydraulic motor 30 (Figs. 2 and 10) for moving the roller 18 lengthwise which carries the web.

Inasmuch as the feeler arm is mounted on a bracket fixed in the frame, it will be apparent that it serves to control the position of the web in the frame, so that the edge of the web that is engaged by the feeler arm is always running in a fixed vertical plane. This locating of the web in the machine insures that the knife holders will take a minimum amount of movement in following the cutting lines and also simplifies the mounting of the roll of material to be cut in the machine.

At the cutting and slitting end of the machine, there is a firstfeeler arm 116 positioned to engage the righthand edge of the web as it is viewed in Figure 4. Feeler arm 116 controls hydraulic valve 168, which is connected to supply the cylinder 72 associated with right-hand slide. 56. This arm is pivotally mounted on any suitable stationary part of the machine so as to permit the feeler to move and follow the edge of the web.

At the left edge of the web is another feeler arm 116 that controls a hydraulic valve 172 connected with cylinder 72 associated with left-hand slide 56. Hydraulic control valves 168 and 172 are of like construction and operation as the hydraulic control valve 150, which is illustrated in Figure 10. Piston cylinders 72, as shown in Figure 4, and arranged at opposite side edges of the web are actuated in response to movement of the hydraulic control valves 168 and 172 respectively similarly as piston cylinder in Figure 10. In this manner when either of the pistons 74 of the cylinder 72 are operated in response to movement of the control valve by edge feelers. 116 arranged at opposite side edges of the web, the trimming knives or blades 33 are caused to move to the right or left, as seen in Figure 4. The middle slitting knife or blade which is connected to the piston cylinder 72 is shifted through the action of the link 84, upon movement of either or both of the edge trimming knives 38, to a position exactly one-half of the distance between the outer edge trimming knives.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the device according to my invention operates as follows: a web is first run through a printing machine, and simultaneously is trimmed on its opposite edges a predetermined and fixed distance outwardly from the opposite edges of the pattern printed thereon.

The printed and roughly trimmed web is then placed in the slitting and trimming machine and threaded therethrough. As soon as the machine is started, and which. is accomplished by energizing a motor N that is connected with one or both of rollers 24, and which is also connected through a speed reducer 180 with shaft 70, the feeler arm 162 adjacent roll 18 becomes effective for predetermining the lateral position of the web in the machine.

Thereafter feeler arms 116 at the cutting and slitting end of the machine serve to control the two outer knife carriages to maintain their knives a predetermined fixed distance inwardly from the outer edges of the Web being trimmed, with the center knife occupying a precisely centered position between the outer knives and slitting the web in half.

Each of the knives can be adjusted laterally independently of the others, and the machine is thus made to; conform to patterns of slightly varying Width and to compensate for variations in the structure in individual knives.

In connection with the hydraulic motor actuation of the transversely movable rollers and the control of the slitting and trimming knives, this manner of actuating these elements is important because of the natural damping characteristics of this type of motor which tends to prevent hunting thereof. Where electric motors are suitable in most combinations of the general nature referred to, with the instant apparatus, it was found that hydraulic motors were much to be preferred. This application is related to application Serial Number 324,172, now U. S. Patent No. 2,728,393.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine of the character described, in combination a frame, means for passing a web through the machine and supporting the web, three spaced cutter knives engaging the web across its Width, feeler means engaging the edges of the web adjacent the outer of said knives, means guided by said feelers for maintaining the adjacent knives a predetermined distance inward of the side edges of the web, and means connecting the two outer knives with the center knife and operable through guiding contact with said feelers to maintain the center knife midway between the outer knives in all positions thereof.

2. In a machine for trimming the opposite edges of a moving web and slitting the same longitudinally which comprises two laterally spaced web side slides and a laterally movable middle slide having a web-slitting knife mounted thereon, edge trimming blades mounted on each of said side slides, hydraulic motor means connected with each of said web side slides for moving the same laterally, edge feelers arranged to contact the opposite side edges of said web, said edge feelers being movable laterally so as to follow the edge of the web, and collapsible linkage means connecting the inner ends of said web side slides with said middle slide, said linkage means having a point in the region of said middle slide connected therewith which takes a movement equal to one-half the sum of the movements of the web side slides, said edge trimming blades being movable laterally in the same direction as said edge feelers a distance corresponding to the distance moved by said edge feelers.

3. In a machine for trimming the opposite edges of a moving web and slitting the same longitudinally at the middle, which comprises two laterally spaced web side slides and a laterally movable middle slide having a webslitting knife mounted thereon, edge trimming blades mounted on each of said side slides, a hydraulic motor connected with each 'of said web side slides for moving said slide laterally, edge feelers arranged to contact the opposite side edges of said web, sai-d edge feelers being movable laterally so as to follow the edge of the web, linkage means connecting the inner ends of the web side slides with said middle slide, said linkage means having a point in the region of the middle slide connected therewith that moves one-half the amount of each Web side slide and in the same direction, said edge trimming blades being movable laterally in the same direction as said edge feelers a distance corresponding to the distance moved by said edge feelers, a control valve for each of said hydraulic motors for reversibly controlling the supply of fluid thereto, a reversible electric motor for shifting each valve, and an electric control circuit for each of said electric motors for controlling the operation of the same in response to lateral movement of said edge feelers.

4. In a machine for trimming the opposite edges of a moving Web and slitting the same longitudinally at the middle which comprises two laterally spaced web side slides and a laterally movable middle slide having a webslitting knife mounted thereon, edge trimming blades mounted on each of said side slides, a hydraulic motor connected with each of said web side slides for moving said slide laterally, edge feelers arranged to contact the opposite side edges of said web, said edge feelers being movable laterally so as to follow the edge of the web, linkage means connecting the inner ends of the web side slides with said middle slide, said linkage having a point in the region of the center slide connected therewith that takes one-half the movement of each of said web side slide and in the same direction, said edge trimming blades being movable laterally in the same direction as said edge feelers a distance corresponding to the distance moved by said edge feelers, a control valve for each of said hydraulic motors for reversibly controlling the supply of fluid thereto, a reversible electric motor for shifting each valve, an armature connected to each of said feelers, a differential coil about each armature, an amplifying circuit connected to each coil, a second armature movable with each valve, and a differential coil about each said second armature which is connected in the amplifying circuit of the valve.

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